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View Winners → Archive Oct 15, 2013
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Ah, it’s a relaxing night at home and you can’t wait to sit on the couch and put your feet up.
But not before opening up the fridge for an ice cold beer.
As you glance in, you can’t help but notice the dismal state of your fridge. The year-old condiments seem to be making quite a home next to your takeout leftovers from an embarrassing, undisclosed number of days ago. And as you reach for your craft beer of choice, you realize all that’s left is the world’s most refreshing beer with which you drank yourself sick playing beer pong last weekend.
You my friend, are in need of a good drink.
Sure, you swear you’ll throw those ketchup packets away and go back to your glory days of fancy cheese, grey poupon, and obscure craft beers. But until then, take heed of our favorite new bars and libation destinations. You won’t be sorry.
The Warwick is a swanky new cocktail lounge slash club that has taken over what used to be Club Lingerie, though the former tenants aren’t any indication of what’s in store. A beautiful sprawling space with plenty of seating (leather couches included), the Warwick drinks are equally as gorgeous. The booze-slinging guys from The Roger Room are behind the cocktails here, serving up drinks like the Kaffir Melon Cooler or the Spanish Bull with spicy tequila and mezcal.
6507 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028 | warwickla.com
This craft beer bar is smackdab in the middle of Chinatown, hidden behind a worn vintage sign that would have you believing the place was no longer in business. A former karaoke bar, Melody Lounge has been reinvented as a craft beer destination, serving beer and nothing else. Walk inside and you’ll find a mini-sea of red lanterns hanging from the ceiling and a perfectly dim, low-key environment to drink and mingle with neighborhood locals.
939 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | facebook.com/pages/Melody-Lounge/539898609368605
Pearl’s boasts what might be the best patio on Sunset Strip. Venture on over and head upstairs and you’ll find an outdoor garden space that kind of makes us want to have an adult tea party, complete with swinging seats and fancy chairs. Views of the Strip accompany delicious drinks inspired by the Sunset Strip’s haunts of the 30s and 40s, like the Villa Nova: Pavan Liqueur, Nolet’s Gin, Cucumber, Hint of Lemon, up.
8909 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 | pearlsliquorbar.com
Photo credit: Elizabeth Daniels
This sophisticated basement bar is the creation of the nightlife geniuses behind downtown hot spots Seven Grand and the Varnish together with NYC-based cocktail maestros, Death + Co. Cool blue lighting contrasts with warm amber highlights throughout the bar, where you’ll find pool tables and maybe even stumble into the “disco” room. Look up and you’ll find the gorgeous interior reflected in the ceilings triangular patterned mirror tiles, hinting to the bar’s “Honeycut” name.
819 Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 | honeycutla.com
A welcome addition to downtown, Ebanos Crossing was conceived when the history-buff owners learned of the first crossing of tequila, mezcal, whiskey and rum together into the United States during prohibition. As such, the cocktail menu leans heavily on these spirits, employing interesting ingredients and garnishes like rock sugar-encrusted bacon and mole bitters. An added bonus: a rare happy hour goes from 5 to 8pm.
200 South Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | ebanoscrossing.com
Photo credit: Elizabeth Daniels
No gimmicks here, just a simple bar driven by the jukebox era of neighborhood watering holes. You won’t find fancy craft cocktails with strange ingredients of mysterious origins, but plenty of good beers on tap and a commendable selection of spirits like bourbon and whiskey for the stiff drinks you’ll surely be served. If you’re looking for a classy bar without an ounce of pretension, this is it.
656 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014 | facebook.com/pages/Wendell/416257478478578
